Lincoln County District Attorney honored as Wildlife Prosecutor of the Year

Modified: Thursday, Aug 21st, 2014

The Lincoln County District Attorney was selected recently to receive the seventh presentation of an award to a prosecutor in Oregon for their support, hard work, dedication, and efforts in enforcing fish and wildlife laws and commitment to the preservation of Oregon's natural resources.

On Aug. 14, Lincoln County District Attorney Michelle Branam was presented with the 2013 Wildlife Prosecutor of the Year Award at the Oregon District Attorneys Association summer conference in Bend. The award, sponsored by the Oregon Sportsmen's Coalition, was presented by Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division Director Captain Jeff Samuels, Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife Watershed Manager Chip Dale, and, Oregon Hunters Association Field Administrator Ty Stubblefield.

Branam served as a deputy and then chief deputy for the Lincoln County District Attorney's Office for almost 10 years before being appointed district attorney by Governor John Kitzhaber earlier this year.

Through her hard work and partnership with area law enforcement, she has garnered a great deal of respect for her commitment to consistently prosecuting fish and wildlife crimes. On her own time, Branam even attended Oregon State Marine Board training to better understand recreational boating enforcement, and she completed both drift boat and jet boat operation training.